Use this template when you have identified a serious issue regarding WP:Neutral point of view that fails to present a fringe theory within the context of the mainstream view or scientific consensus.
Drive-by tagging is strongly discouraged. The editor who adds the tag should first discuss concerns on the talk page, pointing to specific issues that are actionable within the content policies, and should add this tag only as a last resort. In the absence of such a discussion, or where it remains unclear what sources establish the mainstream view or scientific consensus, the tag may be removed by any editor.
The purpose of this group of templates is to attract editors with different viewpoints to edit articles that need additional insight. This template should not be used as a badge of shame. Do not use this template to "warn" readers about the article.
This template should only be applied to articles that are reasonably believed to lack a neutral point of view, giving a misleading overview of a fringe theory. The neutral point of view is determined by the prevalence of a perspective in high-quality, independent, reliable secondary sources, not by its prevalence among Wikipedia editors or the public.
Place this template on an article when you have identified a serious issue of balance and the lack of a neutral point of view that make a fringe theory appear to be the main scholarly point of view, despite it being rejected by the mainstream view or scientific consensus, and you wish to attract editors with different viewpoints on the mainstream or scientific view to the article. Please also explain on the article's talk page why you are adding this tag, identifying specific issues that are actionable within Wikipedia's content policies.
An unbalanced or non-neutral article is one that does not fairly represent the balance of perspectives of high-quality, reliable secondary sources. A balanced article presents mainstream views as being mainstream, and minority views as being minority views. The personal views of Wikipedia editors or the public are irrelevant.
This template is not for use on articles which discuss actual fringe theories appropriately, in line with what secondary sources say about them. For example, the template should not be placed on articles like Flat Earth, Perpetual motion, or Cold fusion.
Place {{Fringe theories|date=June 2024}} at the top of the disputed article, then explain your reasons on the article's talk page. To specify the section of the talk page, use {{Fringe theories|date=June 2024|talk=talk page section name}}. If the date is not included it will probably be added later by a WP:BOT.
This template should only be used in the main (article) namespace. Do not place this template on talk pages, user pages, policies and guidelines, or other pages.
If the dispute involves only a section of an article, use {{Fringe section}}.
If the dispute involves non-neutral presentation of viewpoints, but not actually fringe theories, use {{POV}}or{{POV section}}. See below for a list of other similar templates.
